Why drop-down?

[irvingdog]

Really. Why does your portable, hard sided house need to sit on the ice? What are the advantages that using the sleeves for catch covers wouldn't cure? Aren't drop down axles less road-worthy than standard axles?

Please help me dissect this issue. I'm torn. I live in the cities, but would pull a hard sided house back and forth to LOW and Rainy most of the time.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I think the major disavdvantage of having a house so far off the ice is having to reach so far down to get a fish out of the hole. Houses that are closer to the ice are much easier on that.

[wall eyell be]

The easiest time for a fish to fall off your hook is when the fish is "in the air" (i.e. you've pulled him out of the water, but haven't yet grabbed him with your hand). Therefor the less distance from the water to the topside of your fishouse floor, the better.

[Willy]

Cause it's colder the higher you get off the ice!!

[Farley]

irvingdog-

Drop down axles may be more likley to have problems, but I dont know if I'd say less road worthy. The higher your house is the more wind and cold air will get under the house and all the more banking you'll have to do. Not a problem when you have a foot of snow on the ice but I've thrown out a few houses so far this year and the second biggest problem is finding snow to bank the house in (The # 1 problem is getting the fish to bite! )

I use 2 fish houses regularly. One is a house two of my buddies and I built on top of a steel drop down frame. The frame was built pretty heavy duty and we built the house very heavy duty (one of the buddies builds homes and also farms so no matter what card you played in the "lighter is better" argument, he'd argue to the point you just give up) 2X4 walls 6.5' X 12' house. Now the wheels bow out because of all the weight and wouldnt even attempt to drive it to a lake more than a couple miles away.

The other house was built by my uncle on a aluminum drop down frame and used insulated panels (he installs warehouse coolers\refridgerators) which are very light, just 2 pieces of sheetmetal sandwiching a 2" piece of foam, they are tounge and grooved and there are no studs in the walls, just the panels. this house tows like a dream after 5 to 6 years of abuse. I would pull that up to LOW in a heartbeat.

[buzbunni]

One possible solution for landing the fish is to get an extended lip-grip landing tool. I think Rapala makes a long one, and so perhaps does Boca Grip.

[danny berg]

The advantage of having a drop down trailer for me, would be a back saver. The current house has to be jacked up, wheels pulled off then dropped down on blocks, if I am lucky, the other wheel doesn't move and it drops down on the blocks. But sometimes it misses the blocks, Then it is a real bear to get it up high enough to get the jack back underneath. With the back I have that is not a good thing. I am seriously going to start looking for a new house when this season is over..

[HUNTER2]

If you can afford it, go with the hydrolic wheels. They work slick.

[icehousebob]

One definite advantage of a dropdown. If you fish with a bobber, in a house 12 to 18 inches above the ice, you have to sit looking directly down the hole to see your cork. Also, I fished in one once on Mille Lacs and to land a big fish, I had to lay on my stomach and reach down the hole. Its hard for an old man.

[cold one sd]

Mine doesn't drop down and I have lost few fish while pulling them up to the floor.I use 10 inch pvc pipe and bank around the pvc. The pvc is sealed at floor level to prevent drafts on the floor. The reason I do this is that I can be on the move in five minutes if I want to move. All I have to do is pull the pvc tubes up onto the floor, start my pickup and drive away. I have moved, drilled new holes and been back to fishing before my friends have loaded their gear.

[kais24]

Irving Dog- I am in the same category as you. I want a shack that is very road worthy. I fish about four trips a season to LOW, Mille Lacs, Red, etc. and I don't want to leave my shack up there somewhere. I bought a 14ft shack this year and did a ton of research. I basically was sold on the trailer first, house second. I am confident I will make several years of trips up north before having to do any kind of maintenance on my trailer. After all, you see campers and rvs all the time and they are meant for traveling too. Ice shacks can be built just as roadworthy. Do your research... This is a great place to get info. Other than talking with a lot of builders of the shacks I got most info from this HSOforum... good luck.

[Bagley]

It would also be tough drilling holes late in the winter when there is upwards of three feet of ice if your house wasn't low enough. Even with an extension.

Another thought, being off the ice that far, holes would freeze in easy.

Bagley

[irvingdog]

Quote:

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It would also be tough drilling holes late in the winter when there is upwards of three feet of ice if your house wasn't low enough. Even with an extension. Bagley

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Everyone has had excellent points, but you, Bagley my man, may have hit on the real kicker.

So you guys would trust drop down axles for fairly regular, fairly long, road trips?

I think I'd want it to double as a spring turkey, fall deer trailer as well......

[Willy]

I would trust mine pulling it anywhere. I have had it for 7 years and have made countless trips up North and to Mille Lacs and it pulls like a dream. If you get a frame, make sure it is built soundly and you will be able to pull it around all you want.